Gardner Recaps Final Days of Session

By Pat Gardner

House and Senate reach final agreement on state budget

The House and Senate gave final approval to a $19.3 billion annual state budget for fiscal year 2013, which begins July 1. In late negotiations, $111 million in appropriations for a number of economic development projects was added to the budget plan. That funding comes from Georgia's share of the recent national mortgage settlement. The total plan reflects an increase of about $800 million over the budget for the current year. The budget legislation (HB 742) now goes to Gov. Deal for his signature. The governor also has the authority to veto specific line-item appropriations in the budget.

Zero-Based Budgeting

SB 33 received final passage in the House and Senate and goes to the governor for his signature. The proposal would require state agencies and programs to justify all of their spending during the budgeting process at least once every 10 years.

Restriction on Abortion

The House and Senate majorities gave final approval to HB 954, which would criminalize abortions after the 20th week of pregnancy in most cases. The measure was amended in the Senate to include an exception for "medically futile" cases when conditions are "incompatible with sustaining life after birth." The bill now awaits the governor's signature.

Unemployment Benefits Cut

A majority of House members and Senators gave final approval to HB 347, which would reduce unemployment payments from 26 weeks to a sliding scale of 14 to 20 weeks and would increase the amount businesses are taxed for unemployment insurance. Georgia's unemployment rate is 9.1 percent, well above the national average of 8.3 percent.

Drug Testing for Assistance

HB 861, which would require drug testing for recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits, received final approval by the House and Senate majorities and awaits the governor's signature. I voted against HB 347 and HB 861 because they are unfair to those suffering economically, while the state continues to hand out tax credits to large corporations like Delta and other airlines. 

Metal Theft Enforcement

The House and Senate reached final agreement on HB 872, which would strengthen the penalties on those convicted of stealing various types of scrap metal for sale to recyclers. The bill also expands regulations on secondary metal recyclers to prevent metal thieves from profiting from their crimes.

Open Government

HB 397 was sent to the governor's desk after final approval by the House and Senate. The bill would increase penalties for government officials who break Georgia's "sunshine" laws and clarifies the definition of open meetings and what activities are allowed in closed meetings. The bill also allows the state Department of Economic Development to withhold information on incentives the state offers to attract large development projects until after the company commits to locating in Georgia.

Agency Consolidation

HB 456, which would create a "sunset committee" of legislators to review state agencies, committees and boards for efficiency, received majority approval in the House and Senate. The committee could recommend the agencies be abolished if they are found to be redundant, inefficient or unnecessary.

In other action this week, the House gave final approval to:

• HB 541, which would create the offense of threatening or intimidating a public officer or official in the administration of his or her duties.
• HB 636, which would allow voters in an area of north DeKalb County to decide whether to create a city of Brookhaven.
• HB 685, which would strengthen Georgia's dangerous dog laws.
• HB 1027, which would maintain a 20 percent tax credit for television, film and video game productions in Georgia and grant a 10 percent bonus credit if the program or game includes a special peach logo to promote Georgia tourism.
• HB 1114, which would prohibit assisted suicide.
• SB 302, which would increase the revenues bond cap for the Georgia Higher Education Facilities Authority from $300 million to $500 million, enabling construction of more dormitories, parking decks and student centers on the campuses of Georgia's colleges and universities.
• SB 410, which would put Georgia's public schools under a grading system that considers student success and the progress educators make in improving test score performance. The bill narrowly passed on a reconsideration vote after being defeated on the House floor two days earlier.
• SB 431, which would add medical identity fraud to the provisions of state law related to identity fraud.

House members rejected SB 362, which would have allowed the retrieval of logs that sank in South Georgia rivers as they were being harvested and transported to coastal sawmills during the late 1800s.

Also rejected were proposals to extend the relaxation of the 50/50 capital/operations requirement for MARTA sales tax funding and allow North Fulton mayors to appoint two MARTA Board members; legislation to prohibit the State Health Benefit Plan from covering abortion services; and a bill to prohibit undocumented students from attending Georgia colleges. 

Criminal Justice Reform

To address the problems caused by Georgia's prison population doubling over the past two decades, the Senate voted this week to approve an amended version of HB 1176, which implements recommendations of the Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform. The House unanimously agreed to the Senate's minor changes, sending the bill to the governor's desk.

Rep. Pat Gardner represents the 57th district of Georgia, which includes Morningside Lenox Park, Piedmont Heights, Virginia-Highland, Poncey-Highland, Inman Park and Lindridge Martin Manor.